MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
A Division Of The
Department of Public Safety
Public Information and Education Division - PO Box 568 - Jefferson City, MO 65102

NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
Q12292014-1 (573) 526-6115

December 29, 2014
EMPHASIS: Patrol Reports 12 Fatalities During Christmas Holiday Traffic Crash Counting Period

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 12 people died during the Christmas holiday counting period--from 6 p.m., Wednesday, December 24, 2014 to 11:59 p.m., Sunday, December 28, 2014. During this year’s 102-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 284 traffic crashes, which included 91 injuries and five of the fatalities. In addition, troopers arrested 66 people for driving while intoxicated. There were no boating crashes and no one drowned during the Christmas 2014 counting period.

Last year, during the 30-hour Christmas holiday counting period, there were 207 traffic crashes. In those crashes, one person was killed and another 79 were injured. The Patrol investigated 53 traffic crashes, which included 18 injuries and one fatality. In addition, troopers arrested eight people for driving while intoxicated last year. There were no boating crashes and no one drowned during the Christmas 2013 counting period.

Five of the fatalities occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area; two fatalities occurred in each of the Troop C, Weldon Spring, Troop E, Poplar Bluff, and Troop F, Jefferson City, areas; and one fatality occurred in Troop D, Springfield, area.

Two fatalities occurred on Christmas Day, December 25, 2014. Darrell J. McDowell, 45, of Malden, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the right side of the roadway, and struck a utility pole. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Dunklin County Coroner James Powell pronounced McDowell dead at the scene of the crash. The crash occurred in Dunklin County on Dunklin County Road 222 south of Malden.

Shanica Burney, 22, of St. Louis, died when another vehicle violated a red electric signal and struck the vehicle she was driving. After impact, Burney’s vehicle struck the curb and overturned, coming to rest on its top. The other vehicle slid into a third vehicle, which was parked, and came to rest against vehicle three. Dr. Delucia pronounced Burney dead at University Hospital in St. Louis, MO. A passenger in Burney’s vehicle remains in stable condition at University Hospital. The driver and passenger in the vehicle that struck Burney’s vehicle fled the scene on foot. The crash occurred at the intersection of 14th Street and Cass Avenue in St. Louis. The St. Louis Police Department investigated the crash.
Two people died on Friday, December 26, 2014. Derek J. Schrimpf, 47, of Jefferson City, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail, and overturned. Schrimpf was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Cole County Sheriff’s Department Captain John Wheeler pronounced Schrimpf dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Cole County on U.S. Highway 54 eastbound 100 feet east of Shepherd Hills Road.

Gregory A. Anderson, 29, of Columbia, MO, died when he walked into the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 63 and was struck by a vehicle. A representative of the Boone County Fire Department pronounced Anderson dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. The crash occurred in Boone County on U.S. 63 at Missouri Highway 763.

Eight fatalities occurred on Saturday, December 27, 2014. Paul R. Brown, 48, of St. Ann, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned. Brown was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected. Medical Examiner Kelly Lovelace pronounced Brown dead at the scene of the crash. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on the southbound Interstate 170 ramp to westbound Interstate 70.

Danny L. Nelson, 49, of Kennett, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Dunklin County Coroner James Powell pronounced Nelson dead at the scene of the crash. The driver of the vehicle sustained moderate injuries in the crash; he was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Dunklin County on County Road 553 south of Kennett.

The Kansas City Police Department investigated a five fatality traffic crash. For further information, contact that department.

The Springfield Police Department investigated a single vehicle fatality. No further information is available pending notification of next of kin.


The Patrol encourages motorists to protect themselves from all types of hazardous drivers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Click It 4 Life!

Note: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, or if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release was sent out.

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